4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 6 – 9 Widening Executive Order No. 215 Environmental Impact Statement 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION 4.1 Introduction This section discusses the anticipated environmental consequences, both short-term and long-term, as well as both beneficial and adverse, that could potentially result from the construction of the Proposed Project’s Initially Preferred Alternative (IPA), compared to the No-Build Alternative. This impact assessment presents the environmental resources/disciplines in the same order that they were presented in Section 3.0, Description of the Affected Environment. Also, as in Section 3.0, the discussion of each environmental resource/discipline generally presents the data sources and methodology used in identifying and assessing impacts, as well as presenting the actual results of the impacts evaluation for the No-Build Alternative, followed by the results of the impacts evaluation for the Proposed Project. In the case of adverse impacts, potential mitigation measures are also presented. The Proposed Project’s final design phase will seek to further avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate any unavoidable adverse impacts to resources. 4.2 Land Use and Zoning 4.2.1 Introduction Land use is a major expression of the relationship between people and their physical environment. Impacts to land use resulting from highway construction are either direct or indirect. A direct impact occurs when land is actually acquired for new right-of-way or other purposes, or if an easement is purchased on a portion of a parcel for such purposes as embankments, drainage, construction staging or utility relocation. An indirect, or induced impact, is defined as an impact resulting from a project at a later point in time or farther removed in distance. An example of an indirect land use impact resulting from highway construction is the development that could occur in an area as a result of improved highway access. 4.2.2 Data Sources and Methodology Similar to the existing conditions analysis, local planning and community development officials in each of the 11 municipalities located in the Project Corridor were interviewed, and master plans, zoning maps and any special studies were obtained in order to identify proposed or approved developments in the area, as well as existing or proposed public policy actions that could affect future land use in the corridor. The compatibility of the Proposed Project with surrounding land uses, its consistency with local zoning and master plans, as well as with the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan, and the potential for induced residential, commercial, and industrial development were evaluated. In order to calculate property acquisitions, the Proposed Project’s preliminary design plans were examined. These plans depict existing property lines within the limits of the Project Corridor, the existing Turnpike right-of-way line and local road rights-of-way, as well as proposed right-of-way lines and slope limits. Areas of proposed property acquisition were then digitized and compiled by land use type and by municipality. 4.2.3 No-Build Alternative Under the No-Build Alternative, the Proposed Project would not be undertaken and the Turnpike would remain in its current configuration, with no land being acquired for project purposes. Consequently, 4-1 New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 6 – 9 Widening Executive Order No. 215 Environmental Impact Statement there would be no direct or indirect impact to existing land use patterns, although proposed and approved developments within or in close proximity to the Project Corridor would likely occur independent of the Proposed Project. Proposed and/or approved developments are identified below. 4.2.3.1 Mansfield Township There is one proposed development project located in close proximity to the Project Corridor in Mansfield Township. Located on the north side of Columbus-Kinkora Road on Block 51.10, Lot 4.01, adjacent to the southbound side of the Turnpike (M.P. 51.0), the project has received preliminary site plan approval for nine single-family dwellings. 4.2.3.2 Bordentown Township There is one approved development project located in the Project Corridor in Bordentown Township. A 645,120 square-foot warehouse is to be located on the north side of Old York Road on Block 137.02, Lot 11.03, approximately 200 feet from the southbound side of the Turnpike (M.P. 52.5). The project has received final site plan approval. 4.2.3.3 Chesterfield Township There is one proposed development project located in close proximity to the Project Corridor in Chesterfield Township. Located on the north side of Bordentown-Crosswicks Road on Block 107, Lot 8.01, approximately 500 feet from the northbound side of the Turnpike (M.P. 56.1), the project, the first phase of “Old York Village”, has received preliminary site plan approval for 220 single-family dwellings, 1 duplex, 36 triplexes and 16 quadroplexes. 4.2.3.4 Hamilton Township There are no proposed and/or approved development projects located within or in close proximity to the Project Corridor in Hamilton Township. 4.2.3.5 Washington Township There are seven proposed and/or approved development projects located in the Project Corridor in Washington Township. The first is a 17 unit single-family residential subdivision to be located on the north side of Potts Road on Block 37, Lots 1, 3, 8 and 9, adjacent to the northbound side of the Turnpike (M.P. 59.8). This project has received final approval. The second is a commercial use to be located on a 10.16-acre parcel approximately 900 feet south of the northbound side of the Turnpike, southwest of Circle Drive and north of Potts Road. This project has received final approval and will consist of Block 37, Lots 6, and 7. The third project is a proposed hotel that has received subdivision and site plan approval on 21.97 acres located north of Route I-195 approximately 400 feet east of the northbound side of the Turnpike, south of Robbinsville Allentown Road (Block 38.01, Lot 15, M.P. 60.75). The fourth project is an approved 7.38-acre soccer field to be located north of Robbinsville Allentown Road and approximately 1,000 feet from the northbound side of the Turnpike (Block 41, Lot 8). The fifth project is an office use of over one million square feet located near the northbound side of the Turnpike south and west of West Manor Way (Block 40, Lots 2, 4 and 5). This project has received final approval. The sixth project is three single-family dwellings on 12.75 acres to be located near the southbound side of the Turnpike, south of Sharon Road (Block 23, Lot 4). The seventh and last project consists of 25 single-family dwellings located on Block 47, Lots 4, 8 and 23.02. This project, which has received final approval, will be on 91.41 acres and is to be located near the southbound side of the Turnpike, southeast of Allens Road. 4-2 New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 6 – 9 Widening Executive Order No. 215 Environmental Impact Statement 4.2.3.6 East Windsor Township There are two approved development projects located in the Project Corridor in East Windsor Township. The first consists of 106 single-family age-restricted dwellings to be located on the north side of Monmouth Road on Block 16, Lots 1, 2, 5 and 6 approximately 200 feet from the southbound side of the Turnpike. This project has received final approval. The second consists of 209 dwellings on 104.22 acres located approximately 1,100 feet from the northbound side of the Turnpike. This development is to be located on the north side of Wycoff Mills Road on Block 13, Lot 1. This project has received final approval. 4.2.3.7 Cranbury Township There are two approved development projects located in the Project Corridor in Cranbury Township. The first, a proposed office/warehouse use, is located on the northbound side of the Turnpike south of Cranbury Half Acre Road on Block 8, Lot 1.04. The approval status of this project is unknown. The second, Pro Lodges Southpark, is to be located on the current Home Depot site (Block 10, Lots 4 and 19) and will consist of three warehouses: 921,247 square feet, 600,000 square feet and 210,000 square feet. This project has received final approval and is to be located near the southbound side of the Turnpike, south of Station Road and north of Hightstown Cranbury Station Road. 4.2.3.8 Monroe Township There is one approved development project located within or in close proximity to the Project Corridor in Monroe Township. A 121-room hotel is to be located approximately 600 feet from the southbound side of the Turnpike, south of Forsgate Road and east of Cranbury South River Road (Block 55, Lot 9.07). The parking facility for this development will be located in South Brunswick Township; however, the majority of the development will be located in Monroe. 4.2.3.9 South Brunswick Township There are six approved development projects located in the Project Corridor in South Brunswick Township. The first is a 562,000 square-foot warehouse to be located west of Cranbury-South River Road on Block 17.01, Lots 6, adjacent to the northbound side of the Turnpike. This project has received final approval. The second project is a Sunoco gas station to be located south of Ridge Road and west of Cranbury South River Road on Block 17.01, Lots 4.05, 5 and 3.01, adjacent to the northbound side of the Turnpike. This project has received final approval.